THE ROLE OF
COMMUNICATION IN
MAINTAINING
RELATIONSHIPS
This
Learning Outcome is
mainly about how men and
women communicate with each
other in heterosexual
relationships.
THE ROLE OF COMMUNICATION IN
MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS

What we’ll be talking about:
 Attribution
styles in relationships
THE ROLE OF COMMUNICATION IN
MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS

What we’ll be talking about:
 Attribution
styles in relationships
 Altman and Taylor’s Social
Penetration Theory
THE ROLE OF COMMUNICATION IN
MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS

What we’ll be talking about:
 Attribution
styles in relationships
 Altman and Taylor’s Social
Penetration Theory
 The importance of self-disclosure in
relationships
THE ROLE OF COMMUNICATION IN
MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS

What we’ll be talking about:
 Attribution
styles in relationships
 Altman and Taylor’s Social
Penetration Theory
 The importance of self-disclosure in
relationships
 The different communication styles
of men and women
ATTRIBUTION STYLES
 Remind
the person next to you what
attribution is.
 What are situational and
dispositional attributions?
ATTRIBUTION STYLES


“My partner just bought me a book I’ve always
wanted. She/He is always so thoughtful.”
“My partner just bought me a book I’ve always
wanted. She/He must be feeling guilty about
something.”
ATTRIBUTION STYLES



In happy relationships, partners tend to make
positive attributions about each other.
For example, positive behaviour is attributed to
dispositional factors, while negative behaviour is
attributed to situational factors.
Think of two examples to illustrate the above.
ATTRIBUTION STYLES




In happy relationships, partners tend to make
positive attributions about each other.
For example, positive behaviour is attributed to
dispositional factors, while negative behaviour is
attributed to situational factors.
Think of two examples to illustrate the above.
Predict what attribution styles may be like in
unsuccessful relationships.
ATTRIBUTION STYLES
Now
read page 279 -280 of the
course companion and make
notes about the types of
attributions people make in
relationships.
ATTRIBUTION STYLES
BRADBURY AND FINCHAM




Wives who made dispositional attributions about
their husbands in negative situations were more
likely to behave negatively towards their
husbands.
What does this mean?
Can you think of an example of such an
attribution?
What research methods would have been best to
use in this kind of research?
BRADBURY AND FINCHAM (1992)


What kind of marriage did they find where wives
made dispositional attributions about their
husbands in negative situations?
Can you think of an example of such an
attribution?
BRADBURY AND FINCHAM (1992)

After further longitudinal studies, the
researchers predict that it is the kind of
attributions that influence the behaviour of
couples of couples – rather than the behaviour of
the couples influencing their attributions.
Does
giving your secrets away
make other people like you?
SOCIAL PENETRATION THEORY

According to Taylor, relationships are formed by
a gradual process of self-disclosure.
‘Disclosing
something about
yourself makes both strangers
and friends like you more’
Collins & Miller (1994)
SELF DISCLOSURE – GENDER
DIFFERENCES
Reis
(1986) found that:
women self-disclose more than
men
women also disclose more to
other women than men do to
other men

(but you probably knew that already)
Watch the following clip from Friends.
 How do the men and the women communicate
the same event differently?

DEBORAH TANNEN

Women are more likely to respond to someone’s
negative feelings with understanding and
acceptance.
DEBORAH TANNEN




Have a look at
http://www.usm.maine.edu/com/genderlect/sld001
.htm
and
http://raysweb.net/poems/articles/tannen.html
and make some notes about what Deborah
Tannen says about male and female
communication style.

Now read pages 279-282 of the course companion
and make yourself a detailed mind map on the
topic
The
role of communication in
maintaining relationships